Articles ¬ The Source ¬ Dandruff

During the winter many people are thinking that they have dandruff, but in fact the majority of these people are suffering from dry scalp (your scalp needs moisturizing too). Dandruff is usually caused by dysfunctional sebaceous glands, which can cause the scalp to form scales and lead to itching and burning. There are also many theories around today that dandruff is also a fungal infection. The following are some suggestions that may be helpful in the treatment of dandruff.

Foods that should be avoided to help decrease the formation of dandruff include sugar, fats, chocolate, white flour and processed foods.

Use a natural shampoo, which contains as few chemicals as possible. Natural shampoo containing tea tree, neem tree or eucalyptus oil can be very soothing on the scalp and can also help to deter bacterial and fungal growth. Rinses for the scalp can be made with any of the following substances, either together or separately: chamomile, lemon, vinegar, tea tree oil, or eucalyptus oil. Rinses should be used after the hair has been shampooed and rinsed. For any of the substances mentioned above, use one teaspoon of the dry herb per cup of water. The rinse should be kept on for 15 to 25 minutes, then rinsed out of the hair with water.

To decrease inflammation and aid in the scalp's healing, the essential fatty acids (EFA) can be useful. You can either use a combination of oils together such as flaxseed, borage or evening primrose, or hemp oil which on its own is a well balanced EFA supplement. These oils would be taken using either one tablespoon of the liquid form, or 3000 mg. in capsule form daily.

The mineral Zinc is also very important for the proper healing of the scalp. Dosage for an adult would be 40 to 45 mg., daily.

The liver is a very important organ to strengthen with any skin problem. If the liver isn't cleansing the blood efficiently, it is common for skin conditions such as dandruff to worsen. To help improve the function of the liver, drink the juice of half a lemon, unsweetened in water, 20 minutes before breakfast each day. Also, a herb commonly used to promote proper functioning of the liver is dandelion.

Two herbs that can help cleanse and strengthen the blood and skin are red clover and burdock. These can be used, either alone or in combination . If taking any of these herbs as teas, use one teaspoon of the herb per cup of water, two to three cups daily. Dosage for tincture form would be 15 drops, three times daily. In pill form, use as directed on the label.

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